Chapter 3

Brennan pulled up to the area where the police lights danced around the buildings. She went to her trunk and pulled out her bag. She walked towards the place where yellow tape surrounded the crime scene.

After being cleared by an officer standing guard, Brennan ducked underneath the tape. Walking towards where most of the people were standing, she looked around for a familiar face.

She didn't have to wait long.

"Dr. Brennan!" She heard her name being called out as she went towards the sound of his voice.

"Mr. Castle, a pleasure to meet you again."

Beckett chuckled as Brennan walked towards them.

"What?" Castle said out of the side of his mouth.

"Mr. Castle?" Beckett raised her eyebrows.

Castle shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat. "She likes to keep things professional." He said quickly. "Thank-you for coming to us m'lady."

Brennan raised one of her eyebrows and stood with her arms crossed. Beckett looked Brennan up and down before clearing her throat.

"Oh, how rude of me!" Castle smiled. "Kate Beckett, this is Dr. Temperance Brennan."

Beckett smiled warmly as Brennan returned her smile.

"So, Mr. Castle, I am here because…?" Brennan shifted her bag to her other shoulder.

"Ah-ha! Yes, well, right over here." Castle pointed towards the evidence bag in his partner's hand.

Brennan opened her bag and pulled out her gloves. Sliding them on, she approached Beckett and looked at the bag.

"May I?" Brennan extended her hand.

"Sure." Beckett reluctantly extended the evidence over to the woman standing before her.

Brennan took the hand carefully out of the bag and began to examine it closely.

"Why does she get to handle the evidence?" Castle smirked at his partner.

Without looking away from the hand Brennan commented. "Perhaps it's because you do not have a doctorate or the skills necessary to indentify this human hand."

Beckett bit her lip to keep from smiling, but Castle saw one across her lips anyways. "That's an astute observation Dr. Brennan." He gave a dirty look to his partner. "Is there anything you can tell us about the hand?"

Brennan looked up and titled her head. "The hand is the right hand of a prepubescent boy. The kerf marks along the wrist indicate that the hand was severed with some kind of blade with teeth." Brennan turned the hand over. "The wrist was cut off after the victim was deceased."

Beckett raised her eyebrows, impressed. "The boy was dead before he got his hand hacked off then?"

"In laymen's terms, yes." Brennan looked carefully at the hand. "There is also some remodeling on the thumb, indicating that, at one time, it was fractured and healed."

"Can you tell us how long the boy has been dead?" Castle smirked.

"Where was this hand found?" Brennan questioned.

"In the purse of the teenage, female victim." Beckett pointed towards the body.

"If I can have the purse and the hand, I can send it to my lab and I can tell you anything you need to know." Brennan continued looking at the hand. "The rate of decomposition is difficult to tell, due to the rodent activity, which has left some bite marks on the bone."

Castle and Beckett both shuttered and looked at each other. The memory of the escaped mouse brought them both a sour face.

"You may have the hand and purse, as long as you share all your findings and processes with us." Beckett stated.

"Agreed." Brennan raised her eyebrow and looked at the partner's in front of her. "How long have you been together?"

Castle and Beckett both stammered at the same time, "We…um… we are not together!"

"Oh, no, no, no! Definitely not together!"

Brennan looked confused and then, suddenly understanding raised her eyebrow. "I meant, how long have you been partners?"

Beckett and Castle looked at each other awkwardly and then at the ground.

"Oh, um about three years, right?" Castle mumbled.

"Yeah, give or take." Beckett nodded.

Brennan looked at the partners and decided not to press them any further. "I need to call my lab and get the ball rolling…" Brennan began to walk away, but stopped and smiled. "Hey, I think I got that one right!"

Pressing her phone against her ear, she walked away from the bustle of the crime scene. Castle and Beckett looked at each other and didn't know what to say.

"I am going to call the guys and get this body shipped to autopsy." Beckett picked up her phone.

Castle nodded and watched the two women walk away from him.

He questioned his partner's recent reaction and processed it the best he could. Rubbing his hands together, he put his gloves back on. Looking towards his partner he smiled.

She played with his scarf as she talked on the phone.

A smile spread across his face, as he waited for her to finish.

This was going to be an interesting case.

Angela Montenegro placed her hands on her belly for the fourth time in ten minutes. "Oh, little one! Relax!"

Jack Hodgins walked around the corner and smiled at his wife. "I love when you talk to the fetus."

"I love when you call our future child a fetus." Angela said sarcastically.

Jack walked over to her and placed his hand on her belly. "I know you do. That's why I do it all the time."

Angela swatted her husband away with a large grin. "You know, Jack, you better watch it or I am-"

Angela got interrupted by her phone ringing. She squealed before she picked it up. "Sweetie! How's the book signing? Did you meet any crazy but hot fans?"

"Hello Angela. The book signing is going as expected and no to the second part of your question."

"Oh well, too bad. So, what's up? Coming home early?" Angela sounded hopeful.

"No, actually something unexpected has come up. I am helping solve a murder, right here in New York."

Angela smiled and rolled her eyes. "You know you are supposed to kind of be on vacation, not solving other people's murders."

"I know Angela, but they needed me. Can you gather everyone on the platform? I would like to video conference with you in about an hour."

"Sounds good, Brenn. I will gather the troops for you."

"Thanks Ang. Talk to you in an hour."

Brennan hung up the phone before Angela could ask her anymore questions.

"Is everything alright?" Jack questioned.

"I think so. Brenn has gone off on vacation and found us more work to do." Angela laughed. "You know, since we have nothing better to do."

"Yeah, right?" Jack sat down on Angela's couch.

"Don't get comfy. We are conferencing in an hour and I have to gather everyone." Angela walked to her desk.

Jack closed his eyes. "See you in an hour."

Angela frowned and kicked her husband out. "I don't think so Jack Stanley! Go gather everyone for me, while I set up the conference."

Jack jogged towards the door and stopped. He turned a little and saluted. "Yes ma'am!"

"Just go!" Angela rolled her eyes as her husband scurried away.

Angela began to set up everything and stopped for a moment. She wondered if Booth was involved in this. Shaking her head, she picked up her office phone and dialed his number.